Walking Between Dreams

Chapter 25

The scent of grim and filth wafted in the air as we passed through the abutting, proximate housing that was stacked five stories high. Faded side shutters barely hung by the rectangular windows that looked upon us, there were a few birds chirping. No signs of life were to been seen except for three hooded figures that briskly walked through the winding pathways littered with trash and excrement. 

Nesyrn's dark hand waved over to a building in shambles, "We are here, let's go in."

Lolos and I trailed after the guards as she went up the wooden steps and through a quaint door frame. Inside was a few places to sit on one side and across from it was a beat up desk on the first floor. Dust coated every piece of furniture, thankfully the windows were intact with gray drapes covering them other than a couple ones pulled to the side to allow light to enter. In front of us strolled in the copper-brown eyed Captain of the Guards with his eyes became unreadable as he examined each one of us, if knowing about the bloodshed. 

"Welcome to the new head quarters." Chaol announced, "This should be permanent now."

I bobbed my head and introduced, "This is Lolos."

Chaol smiled broadly and held out his hand, "Nice to see you again."

"Good to see you too, Captain," Lolos returned by taking his hand.

I glanced at Lolos to see his eye full of uncontrolled glee and a toothy grin.

As Nesyrn went to brief Chaol I asked Lolos, "Are you apart of the royal guard?"

He grimaced, "Formerly now. I do not think I can come back to the castle anymore."

"What is done is done," I advised, "all we can do is move on."

I felt a light touch on my shoulder and it was Nesyrn who signaled for me to follow her, Lolos was already chatting with Chaol. I trailed after her into a back room with a bucket of water, soap, and a pair of clean clothes all set on a round table.

"You smell awful," the guard stated while tossing me a cloth, "so clean up."

I bared my teeth, "Yes, ma'am."

My body tensed up when I came into contact with the icy water and scrubbed to get the grime off of my skin. My fingers became raw once I was able to see my pale skin again, the water was dyed red. Then I peeled off my disgusting armor while gently placing down my weapons but making sure to keep the necklace on. I rubbed until I was spotless and slipped into the fresh set of clothes; it smelled like homemade soap.

The dark necklace was tucked under a light gray shirt that hung loosely with black trousers. My old pair of boots I cleaned myself and popped them on while thinking about what to do with not many options. I could stay here or go, but to where.

The metal keeper froze my hand as I carried it out with me as my dagger bounced with each movement of my leg as long with my watch. I leaned my swords against the cracked wall in the main room and sat down while closing my eyes. I could hear the steady breaths of the rebels who stood guard, Chaol and Lolos prattling about good old times.

"Follow me," ordered Nesyrn as she shook me awake.

My vision blurred as I blinked and got up to accompany her to a charming office on the second floor. We went up creaking stairs to a room with massive windows overlooking the Avery from afar and a stone fireplace with stacks of wood by it. Closest to the door were two love seats facing each other and a sizable desk by the windows, stacks of paper towered on it.

I plopped down on the over stuffed seat and leaned back while Nesyrn shifted her gaze to the door as she sat by me. I twisted the finely made dagger on my leather belt until Chaol and Lolos emerged from another room to the right; they had tears stain their smiling faces.

"We need to figure out what to do with Aedion," led Chaol as he sat down and folded his hands together.

Lolos exclaimed with his breathes increasing, "It was a success!"

"Is here a safe house or somewhere to take him?" I brought up quietly.

Chaol described, "There is and Calaena is charge of that. I'm not sure where she is taking him, however he is injured and we have no healers."

"I can help. I was a medic," I offered with a white lie, "while I served the Ytger family. I was one of their most trusted guards, so they had me learn how to heal to be more efficient at my job."

"Why do I find this hard to believe?" Chaol arched his eye brows and continued, "You have shown no knowledge of this before and yet you did not offer it while it was most needed."

"It slipped my mind," I chirped while baring my teeth, my hand tightening on my dagger.

Nesyrn growled, "You have no commitment to the rebellion if you will lie like this."

"I never needed to mention so I didn't," I explained with my patience thinning.

"We need you to tell us all of your abilities so you can be helpful." Chaol condescended, "Any thing you can do is helpful."

"I will not be spoken to like a child," I demanded sharply with my muscles tensing up.

"You are not," snapped Nesyrn as she turned to stare at me, her unflinching gaze poked hole into me.

I narrowed my eyes at Chaol and I stood up to leave, though Lolos put up his hand to stop me from exiting.

"You skills are invaluable now and I believe you should go help the General if your claims are true," reasoned Lolos as he glanced at Chaol for approval.

The Captain bobbed his head and stated, "If you are telling the truth then you are needed to immediately leave with me and treat Aedion's injuries."

"Wait are am I waiting for," I retorted snidely while running my hand through my damp hair.

Chaol stood up calmly with an annoyed expression and strolled to the entrance. 

"We are leaving now and Nesyrn you are in charge," declared Chaol to everyone present, "You better be telling the truth or we will leave you for the king."

"Fair enough," I said as I joined him when he exited the room.

We went down a wide hallway to the right, spider web hung over the well-used rugs on the floor. Peeling blue paint decorated the walls with some ancient paintings of flowers and trees with a few metal candle holders on the walls. Soon we took a quick turn to a long stair case the was coated in dust and dead bugs, it smelled musty. Once we reached the bottom a door led to a deserted road in Rifthold with a carriage waiting for us or someone.

"Well hurry up. I have been waiting here for thirty minutes for a young man named Samuel," mentioned the driver with her long gray hair covering tilted eyes.

A brown horse flicked it's tail as Chaol stated, "We are taking this ride now. It is urgent."

"Alright, just get on," instruct the driver while she moved the reigns.

Chaol gave the driver vague instructions and the driver raised their brow, still she nodded her head. Humidity stuck to my skin while I climbed in after Chaol and sat across from him. I got a whiff a horse manure as I slammed the door shut and it took off at at great speed. I opened my mouth to ask where we are going, just to have Chaol raised his scarred hand to silence me.